newbie with head gasket question

Hello all! i just bought a 91 1500 with a 4.3l v-6 and a 5 speed manual trans 2wheel drive. the previous owner overheated it (lack of coolant) and warped the heads. i just got the heads back from the machine shop. and i bought a felpro head set. the head gaskets in the kit don't say which side is up on the head gaskets, and the directions don't say. one side of the gasket has more metal showing than the other, does it matter which side is up?:screwy:

also what manual trans does my truck have? is it the nv4500?

thanks for your advice! mike

Gaskets should be marked which side is up if they will fit both ways.
If not contact the manf or get another gasket set.
Always use new head bolts.
And torque to specs.
5 speed Trans should be a NV4500.
On transmission check for ID tag on side of transmission.
Get some breakdown pictures or check the RPO code.
Some dealers can breakdown the vin no. for ID.
But there is always a possible that it has been changed.

thanks for your reply! i am going out now to buy the head bolts at napa. my three day search has found that they are hard to find. auto zone, pepboys don't even have a part # and don't carry them. advance auto shows a part # but have none in the midwest. and napa has one set in the whole cincinnati area, which i am headed out now to score it.

so far felpro's site is down and no phone # is provided. i think i am going to take them back to the store were i purchased them and let them figure it out.
i would assume they can get a hold of the felpro rep?

i do think my trans is the nv 4500 because it is a five speed and i believe that was the the only 5 speed offered (Without granny gear). i was asking because i got some syncromesch fluid to go in it. but don't want to harm it if it isn't a nv 4500. i had a s-10 with a getrag manual and i know those took gear oil. so i guess i will call the dealer.

i will let you all know when i get her running. i am starting assembly wednesday. should be around a week after that! mike

I just looked at a Fel-pro and McCord 350 head gasket and they are not marked.
As a general rule the more metal part goes down and look for the emblem or writing on gasket and put it on the up side.
But check manf to be sure.
Sad deal that no one wants to carry or sell the head bolts.
The reason I say replace them is bolts that old will may be old and chystrillized or snap off when you tighten them down.
Also back in them years they had head bolt problems to start with.
Some of them snapped or broke off on there own.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
MT

that is the same thing the parts store said," side with the part # embossed in it goes up and the side with the most metal goes down." they gave me felpro's tech # so i will confirm it tomorrow.

i can't wait to get her running, never had a fullsize truck before! i still see alot of the 87/88-93's around in this area. must be a solid truck line because i also see alot of them with insane high miles. it also seems like they rust ALOT less than the 75-86 body styles. the 91 i just picked up has no rust that is unusual for any car in this region. mike

she is alive! got her back together on friday and had a problem with valve adjustment but got that fixed. started right up, but found an antifreeze leak in the heater hose-intake manifold connector. (cheap press on connector, gonna fix that today or tomorrow) Soooo i have not run it up to temperature yet because of the leak. but i will keep everyone posted.

got her smoothed out when i set the timing and boy is she quiet! sounds like a sewing machine!(the cylinders still had cross hatching with 117,000 miles). thanks for everbodies advice! mike

Glad all is well and thanks for posting back with the fix and how it went.
MT

Trans in that truck is a NV3500

thanks for the reply! i guess they put the 3500 behind the v-6 and the 4500 behind the v-8. mike